Changes In System Research Articles

Manifestations of toxic pulmonary edema during respiratory support in an experiment

BACKGROUND: Currently, respiratory support is successfully used to treat pulmonary edema of non-toxic origin. The manifestations of pulmonary edema of non-toxic origin and toxic pulmonary edema have similar features, so respiratory support can be effective in treating the latter. AIM: To describe the manifestations of toxic pulmonary edema in rabbits and demonstrate the effectiveness of artificial pulmonary ventilation with support of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in case of severe intoxication with thermal destruction products of fluoroplastic-4. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three rabbits were used in the study: rabbit N 1 (control), rabbit N 2 (intoxication) and rabbit N 3 (treatment). Rabbits N 2 and 3 were subjected to severe intoxication with thermal destruction products of fluoroplastic-4 (1,5 HLC50, 15 min). For treatment, rabbit N 3 (treatment), an hour after exposure, underwent mechanical ventilation with PEEP (pressure-controlled mode; oxygen fraction — 0,3; starting PEEP — 5 cm H2O, tidal volume — 20–25 ml). At various times, chest radiography was performed, oxygenation index, hemoglobin saturation (SaO2), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide in exhaled air (PetCO2) were determined. Posthumously, pathological changes in lung tissue, pulmonary coefficient were determined, and histological examination was performed. RESULTS: Exposure of rabbit N 2 (intoxication) to the thermal destruction products of fluoroplastic-4 led to the sequential formation of the interstitial and alveolar phases of toxic pulmonary edema, which contributed to its death 13 hours after exposure. As SaO2 decreased and PetCO2 increased (3 and 5 hours after exposure), in rabbit N 3 (treatment), during respiratory support, PEEP was increased twice by 2 cm H2O (maintaining a given respiratory volume), which led to the normalization of the studied parameters. On the 7th day after exposure, the condition of rabbit N 3 (treatment) did not differ from the condition of rabbit N 1 (control); no pathological changes in the respiratory system were detected. CONCLUSION: Carrying out mechanical ventilation with PEEP, started an hour after exposure (with a stepwise increase in PEEP as the condition worsens), is effective for correcting toxic pulmonary edema in rabbits caused by severe intoxication with the thermal destruction products of fluoroplastic-4.

Co-creation and recovery in mental health services: a lived experience perspective.

This article explores the shift in mental health recovery from mere symptom management to a holistic approach via the CHIME framework. It delves into the author's experience, beginning with the loss of his father, a war veteran with mental health struggles, at 16, thrusting him into the role of primary caregiver for his mother, who also battled mental health issues and eventually took her own life. These events spotlight the shortcomings of traditional mental health care and the urgent need for empathetic, multifaceted services. Advocating for co-creation in mental health services, the article outlines a transition towards a system that integrates recovery principles through stages from co-ideation to co-evaluation, emphasising holistic, person-centred care. It calls for a reimagined mental healthcare system that respects individual journeys and is rooted in co-creation, signalling a critical move towards systemic change.

The role of information flows in trust-based management

PurposeThis paper explores the role of work-related information flows in trust-based management in public sector organizations. Whereas the relationship that trust affects information sharing between employees as such is well known, the opposite relationship where information flows that facilitate access to and sharing of work-related information affect trust is less studied.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses survey data from 481 employees at lower hierarchical levels in home care and schools in the City of Oslo four years after the City Council decided to implement trust-based management, using structural equation modelling (SEM).FindingsThe results from the path models indicate that work-related information flows mediate the impact of trust-based management, contribute to the development of trust in managers and increase employee autonomy.Practical implicationsA practical implication is that work-related information flows seem to be an important design variable in trust reforms. Organizations that plan to implement more trust-based management should therefore pay close attention to how changes in management systems and leadership practices impact work-related information flows.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the public management literature and research on trust reforms by identifying the role of work-related information flows as a mediator in trust-based management. The paper provides new insights into the relationship between information flows, trust and autonomy by combining perspectives from public management, information studies and organizational behaviour.

Contribution of gut microbiota to the development of Crohn's disease: Insights gained from fecal microbiota transplantation studies in mice

We would like to present some new thoughts on the publication in the journal published in August 2024 in World Journal of Gastroenterology . We specifically focused on the alterations in the intestinal tract, mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT), and systemic inflammatory changes in mice following fecal flora transplantation into a mouse model of Crohn's disease (CD). Accumulating evidence suggests that the occurrence of CD is influenced by environmental factors, host immune status, genetic susceptibility, and flora imbalance. One microbiota-based intervention, fecal microbiota transplantation, has emerged as a potential treatment option for CD. The MAT is considered a "second barrier" around the inflamed intestine. The interaction between gut microbes and inflammatory changes in MAT has attracted considerable interest. In the study under discussion, the authors transplanted fetal fecal microorganisms from patients with CD and clinically healthy donors, respectively, into 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced CD mice. The research explored the complex interplay between MAT, creeping fat, inflammation, and intestinal flora in CD by evaluating intestinal and mesenteric lesions, along with the systemic inflammatory state in the mice. This article provides several important insights. First, the transplantation of intestinal flora holds significant potential as a therapeutic strategy for CD, offering hope for patients with CD. Second, it presents a novel approach to the diagnosis and treatment of CD: The inflammatory response in CD could potentially be assessed through pathological or imaging changes in the MAT, and CD could be treated by targeting the inflammation of the MAT.

‘We have a great deal of influence’: Finnish early childhood in-service teachers’ agency for culturally sustaining pedagogy

ABSTRACT This qualitative study focused on the role of teacher agency and critical reflection in the context of an in-service training programme for early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers in Finland. The programme emphasised culturally sustainable pedagogy and aimed to support teachers in an increasingly multilingual society. This study aimed to investigate how teachers displayed agency as they tried to promote culturally sustaining pedagogy, and how critical reflection interacted with teachers’ professional agency. The data of the study were versatile, as they consisted of influential texts implemented via the creative writing process, two questionnaires, and interviews with the participants. The data were analysed theoretically and empirically through inductive-deductive reasoning. The investigation revealed four levels at which in-service teachers manifest agency in culturally sustaining pedagogy: individual, child-oriented, institutional, and societal. The results revealed that by writing influential texts, ECEC practitioners significantly challenged their assumptions about their agentic capacity and inspired them to reflect on their practices critically. The findings also revealed that in terms of the targeted audience, participants were not confident in their agentic role in influencing systemic change. These findings highlight the importance of discussing multiple aspects of agency in teacher education by using guided critical reflection.

Energy Citizenship in Energy Transition: The Case of the Baltic States

The governance of energy systems is undergoing a transformative shift, vital to advancing the energy transition. Understanding the dynamics of energy citizenship and the factors that influence citizen engagement in energy matters is critical for driving social and institutional change. This paper informs on the key results of a comprehensive analysis of 54 energy citizenship cases in the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania). The study explores the role of citizens in the energy transition and characterizes the socio-economic and geopolitical factors shaping energy citizenship activities in the region. The governance of energy systems represents a significant transformational shift that is essential for energy transition. A more comprehensive understanding of the current state of energy citizenship and the factors influencing the energy transition process could inform the social and institutional changes necessary for the involvement of citizens in energy matters. This desk study represents a crucial element of the EU Horizon 2000 EnergyPROSPECTS project, which aims to map the landscape of energy citizenship in Europe. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of 54 cases from the Baltic states. The findings provide insight into the role of citizens in the transition process and the underlying factors and conditions that shape energy citizenship activities within the specific socio-economic and geopolitical context of the region. In general, energy citizenship in the Baltic states can be seen to exist on a spectrum between reformative and transformative practices. Overall, progress is being made toward systemic changes in the energy sector, with a focus on the democratization of processes. Nevertheless, additional measures to enhance and reinforce energy citizenship, coupled with the advancement of enabling conditions, are imperative at all levels of governance and across all energy transition scenarios.

Formulation-dependent differences in paclitaxel distribution to anatomical sites relevant to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

IntroductionChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose-limiting adverse event observed in patients receiving paclitaxel, associated with initial pathological changes in the peripheral nervous system, i.e., distal nerves and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The prevalence of CIPN in patients receiving paclitaxel formulated i) in polyethylated castor oil with ethanol (CreEL-PTX), ii) as albumin-bound (nab-PTX), and iii) in XR17 micelles (micellar-PTX), is unexpectedly varying. We hypothesize that the discrepancy in CIPN prevalence could be governed by differences in the extent of paclitaxel distribution across blood-to-tissue barriers at the CIPN-sites, caused by the specific formulation.MethodsThe recently developed Combinatory Mapping Approach for CIPN was used to determine the unbound tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio Kp,uu,tissue, after a 4-h infusion of 4 mg/kg CreEL-PTX, 4 mg/kg nab-PTX or 1 mg/kg micellar-PTX in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Kp,uu,tissue was determined in conventional (DRG, sciatic nerve) and non-conventional (brain, spinal cord, skeletal muscle) CIPN-sites.ResultsBased on our data, the Cremophor-free paclitaxel formulations were associated with a higher distribution of paclitaxel to CIPN-sites than CreEL-PTX, e.g., Kp,uu,DRG of 0.70 and 0.60 for nab-PTX and micellar-PTX, respectively, in comparison to 0.27 for CreEL-PTX (p < 0.01). In addition, the fraction of unbound paclitaxel in plasma was on average 1.6-fold higher in nab- and micellar PTX arms and equal to 0.061 and 0.065, respectively, compared to 0.039 for the CreEL-PTX treatment arm (p < 0.0001).DiscussionIn the case of similar unbound paclitaxel concentration in the plasma of patients and assumed species-independent extent of paclitaxel transport across the barriers, nab- and micellar-PTX formulations can lead to higher paclitaxel exposure at CIPN-sites in comparison to CreEL-PTX.

Decreasing the carbon footprint of food through public procurement—A case study from the municipality of Härnösand

Eating habits are among the strongest drivers of negative environmental impact. Public procurement has been suggested as an efficient lever to catalyze changes within the food system. This study examines alternative purchase processes that may decrease the carbon footprint of publicly procured food through a case study of a municipality in the Northern part of Sweden. The GHG emissions associated with the current food service in the case study were 2.2 kg CO2e per kg food and must be reduced by 40.9% by 2030 to comply with the Paris Agreement; 76% of the emissions derive from food of animal origin (44% from unprocessed red meat). Three alternative diet scenarios, “zero red meat,” “−50% red meat,” and “flexitarian free from red meat,” were explored. Only 6% of the total purchased food kilograms were altered, yet the cutback of meat caused GHG emissions reductions turned out to be as high as 44%. The Swedish Law on Public Procurement, deficient infrastructure, unsustainable food culture, and local politicians' reluctance to change were mentioned as the main obstacles to materializing necessary changes in the food procurement system. The respondents also pointed out essential policy changes at the national and municipal levels.

Claudin2 is involved in the interaction between Megalocytivirus-induced virus-mock basement membrane (VMBM) and lymphatic endothelial cells

The genus Megalocytivirus, belonging to the family Iridoviridae, is one of the most detrimental virus groups to fish aquaculture. Megalocytivirus creates a virus-mock basement membrane (VMBM) on the surface of infected cells. This membrane provides attachment sites for lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), disrupting fish's endothelial cell-extracellular matrix system. This disruption triggers injury to the vascular system and can result in death. Exploring the VMBM-cell interaction mechanism is crucial for uncovering the pathogenesis of Megalocytivirus and identifying therapeutic targets. Claudins, a class of tetra transmembrane proteins, play a key role in creating tight junctions between endothelial or epithelial cells. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of Claudin2, a member of the Claudin family in fish, was significantly up-regulated by Megalocytivirus infection. Claudin2 was found in LECs attached to the surface of infected cells. It interacted with the VMBM viral components VP23R, VP08R, and VP33L at multiple binding sites through its two extracellular loops. However, it did not interact with the host basement membrane’s nidogen. Therefore, Claudin2 is involved in the interaction of LEC with VMBM and plays a role in the disturbed distribution of extracellular matrix and endothelial cells in Megalocytivirus-infected fish tissues. This study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms by which Megalocytivirus infection leads to pathological changes in the vascular system.

Predictive Accuracy of HeartMate 3 Risk Score After the Heart Transplant Allocation Change.

The HeartMate 3 risk score (HM3RS) was developed from the Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy with HeartMate 3 (MOMENTUM 3) clinical trial to predict 1 and 2 year mortality after left ventricular assist device implantation. However, it has not been validated in a real-world population, especially after the heart transplant allocation system change on October 18, 2018. In this multicenter retrospective analysis, we found that HM3RS did not predict 1 and 2 year outcomes in the contemporary era, highlighting the need to revise this risk prediction tool in the real-world setting.

Addressing the “How” and “Why” of student preparation for community partnerships Book Review: Preparing Students to Engage in Equitable Community Partnerships

“Preparing Students to Engage in Equitable Community Partnerships” by Tryon, Madden, and Sprinkel provides a guide to prepare students for meaningful and transformative community partnerships. The authors emphasize student preparation, critiquing traditional service-learning models and advocating for community-based learning to avoid perpetuating unequal power dynamics. They offer strategies for developing student humility, cultural awareness, and social justice education, aiming to transition from a charity model to critical community engagement focused on systemic change. The book includes tools, resources, and reflections to support educators in implementing effective community engagement strategies, ideally to be incorporated into a semesterlong course prior to entering a community. However, service learning and community engagement is rooted in experiential education. While some advance preparation is essential, frontloading all learning “in theory” and divorced from real-world experience contradicts the principles of experiential learning. Next, given their student demographics and the need to prepare students for engaging with diverse populations, the authors acknowledge that the material they introduce is primarily geared towards preparing (their) white students. Student preparation often focuses on those “crossing a border” during community-engaged work but many students are “returning home.” Overall, the text is a valuable contribution with limitations that must be overcome.

Adaptive Robust Control of Nonlinear Constrained Stirred‐Tank Reactors via Self‐Organizing Fuzzy Neural Network

ABSTRACTThis paper presents an adaptive robust constraint controller for a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system based on a self‐organizing fuzzy neural network (SOFNN). Due to the high complexity of the chemical reactions, the CSTR system contains many strong nonlinearities and uncertainties. This is the first time to introduce the SOFNN into the adaptive controller design of the CSTR system, which improves the adaptability to dynamic system changes through the adjustment of the fuzzy network structure. Meanwhile, the time‐varying integral barrier Lyapunov functions (TVIBLFs) are employed to ensure the dimensionless reactant concentration and mixture temperature within a reasonable scope, which can improve the stability and safety of the CSTR system. Based on Lyapunov stability analysis, all the signals in a closed‐loop system are ultimately bounded. Simulation results substantiate the efficacy of the proposed control scheme.

An Enhanced State-Space Modeling for Detecting Abnormal Aging in VRLA Batteries

The knowledge of battery aging is an indicator that allows controlling the performance of large battery banks. State of Health (SOH) is typically the metric used, encompassing all possible mechanisms in a percentage indicator, with the Coulomb Counting as the most common method. Hence, an in-depth study of aging based on known models provides proper information for correctly managing batteries. This article proposes an aging-sensitive 3-RC-array-equivalent electrical circuit model to characterize the behavior of batteries throughout their useful life, identifying parametric changes as complementary information to the state of health. This model was validated based on experimental tests with 2 V and 6 Ah VRLA batteries aged according to the manufacturer’s recommended use. The results reveal a proportionality through capacity degradation. Then, a control group of batteries was subjected to overcharge and over-discharge conditions. The information given by Coulomb Counting SOH and the proposed method were evaluated. The proposed method provides additional information to the SOH, enhancing the distinguishing capability between typical aging performance and misused aging performance, resulting in a useful tool capable of identifying the aging associated with parametric changes in a time-invariant system where aging is treated as an imminent multiplicative fault.

Arrested development and increased incidence of sandprawn embryonic aberrations along an intertidal human recreation gradient.

Anthropogenic pressures are increasing in coastal ecosystems globally, yet identifying robust indicators of change and managing coastal resources can be complicated by phenotypic plasticity and differential life-history responses of key organisms. We illustrate this using biogeochemical and sandprawn (Kraussillichirus kraussi) response metrics along a human recreation gradient (trampling, sandprawn harvesting) in a South African lagoonal ecosystem. Benthic compaction, oxygen depletion and high porewater ammonia concentrations were associated with greatest recreation intensity. Sandprawn abundance was similar across the recreation gradient and body condition was counter-intuitively greater in areas with maximum recreation, but with higher frequencies of embryonic aberrations and arrested development. These findings suggest different vulnerabilities of life-history stages of sandprawns to recreation, with embryonic stages being highly susceptible. We suggest that embryonic aberrations and developmental changes in endobenthic crustaceans may be sensitive bioindicators of recreation-induced changes in sedimentary systems.

Longitudinal change in the adjective intensifier system of Hexagonal French

Abstract Intensifiers are known for their dynamic nature, due in part to the expressive function they serve. However, while the quantitative patterning of English intensifiers has been studied extensively, the intensifier system of French has yet to be well documented. This study therefore examines intensifier use from a variationist sociolinguistic perspective in the ESLO corpus of spoken Hexagonal French. The quantitative distributions of adjective intensifiers are compared across two corpora collected in 1970 and 2010. Results show a significant decrease in intensification rate over time. Analysis of individual intensifiers show some to have decreased in use over time (e.g. très, tellement), others to have increased (e.g. vraiment, tout), and others to appear only in the later sample (e.g. super, hyper). Longitudinal change is also found in the adjectival function (predicative vs. attributive) and collocational width of intensifiers. Relating to social factors, no significant gender difference is found between female and male speakers’ intensification rate over time. Furthermore, très dominates as the preferred intensifier among older generations, while younger speakers favour more varied intensifiers. Analyzing such changes in the use of intensifiers over the past half century contributes to a better understanding of the structure and development of the French intensifier system.

Adoption of quick response codes as a digital microlearning tool among clinical nurses: a quasi-experimental study.

The rapid growth of technology forced enormous changes in the provision of healthcare services. Different strategies are used to keep nurses up to date with rapid changes in health systems. Microlearning is one of the new methods of teaching professional skills to health workers. This method is effective in care settings that have many limitations in terms of time and place. However, it is very important to test the acceptability of this method among nurses before practical measures are taken for its widespread use. This study aimed to determine nurses' acceptance rate of quick response code as a microlearning tool in workplace. This is a cross-sectional study was conducted in medical and surgical wards in hospitals affiliated to Guilan University of Medical Sciences. 185 nurses participated in the study. A number of selected medical devices were labeled with quick response codes containing educational content. The eligible nurses were instructed how to use the QR codes. After two months, they were asked to complete a questionnaire adapted from the technology acceptance model 3. SPSS 21 software was used to analyze the data. 166 nurses and 19 head nurses with mean age of 34.26 ± 8.17 years and mean work experience of 10.46 ± 7.64 years completed the questionnaires. Most participants were female, married, with a bachelor's degree, worked on rotating shifts, in medical wards. The findings showed that the acceptance of the quick response code as a learning tool was at a moderate level (M = 66.1, SD = 16.6). Statistically, there was no significant relationship between nurses' demographic characteristics and the total acceptance rate (P > 0.05). However, the analyses at the multivariate level, using multiple linear regression, showed a significant superiority of the total acceptance score in head nurses compared to nurses (b = 7.97, P = 0.047) and in nurses who had previous experience of using quick response codes, compared to colleagues without such experience (b = 5.18, P = 0.036). Based on the coefficient of determination, only 6.1% of the changes in the total acceptance score of quick response codes of nurses are explained by their personal-occupational characteristics (R2 = 0.061). The provision of QR code requirements such as necessary infrastructure and training by the health authorities could increase the acceptance of this tool as a microlearning measure.

Trait responses, nonconsumptive effects, and the physiological basis of Helicoverpa armigera to bat predation risk.

Predation reduces the population density of prey, affecting its fitness and population dynamics. Few studies have connected trait changes with fitness consequences in prey and the molecular basis and metabolic mechanisms of such changes in bat-insect systems. This study focuses on the responses of Helicoverpa armigera to different predation risks, focusing on echolocating bats and their calls. Substantial modifications were observed in the nocturnal and diurnal activities of H. armigera under predation risk, with enhanced evasion behaviors. Accelerated development and decreased fitness were observed under predation risks. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that exposure to bats induced the upregulation of amino acid metabolism- and antioxidant pathway-related genes, reflecting shifts in resource utilization in response to oxidative stress. Exposure to bat predation risks enhanced the activity of DNA damage repair pathways and suppressed energy metabolism, contributing to the observed trait changes and fitness decreases. The current results underscore the complex adaptive strategies that prey species evolve in response to predation risk, enhancing our understanding of the predator-prey dynamic and offering valuable insights for innovative and ecologically informed pest management strategies.

Performance Verification and Evaluation of Semi-Active Actuator System Using Quarter Car Lab Simulation with RLDA Data

This study outlines a methodology for determining the durability specifications of electronically controlled dampers by examining performance degradation observed on actual driving roads. It identifies areas of performance decline and the primary causes affecting major actuator dampers. Traditionally, the durability performance of automobile parts has been assessed by calculating damage based on load profiles. However, analyzing actual road conditions is essential because the control commands of electronically controlled suspension systems change in real time according to load conditions. Simulations based on Road Load Data Acquisition (RLDA) use statistically independent representative road surfaces to assess damper deterioration performance. Following this analysis, a rig test of the damper is performed to establish the durability specifications for damper actuator products. The primary form of performance degradation observed was a change in the tensile damping force, which was more substantial than the degradation observed on the compression side. Oil leakage and cavitation were identified as significant influencing factors from a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) perspective. The study concludes that additional design research is necessary, focusing on damper oil and leakage, while also considering the control algorithm’s effects in designing electronically controlled dampers.

Correction to: The conditional effects of party system change on economic growth in Africa

Correction to: The conditional effects of party system change on economic growth in Africa

EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF WORK, RACE, AND AGING IN THE LIVES OF ELDERLY BLACK WOMEN

This study explores the intersectional challenges faced by elderly Black women living in peripheral communities in northeastern Brazil. These women severeal obstacles stemming from their race, gender, age and socioeconomic status. How do elderly Black women perceive the effects of racism, sexism, and ageism on their lived experiences, particularly in relation to health, social interactions, and labor market participation? Objective: To analyze their perceptions of the aging process, focusing on the invisible scars left on their bodies and lives by systemic inequalities. This qualitative study employs thematic analysis to explore the lived experiences of Brazilian Black elderly women living in a peripheral community. Twenty voluntaries, aged 60 to 84, participated in the study. Data collection included narrative interviews based on the Oral History method. The data revealed three main themes: "Stories of Struggle and Overcoming", "Symbols of Resistance" and “Work and Economic Contributions”. These narratives highlighted the impact of structural racism and ageism on the women’s self-perception, well-being, and identity. While the women often faced marginalization and discrimination, their stories also reflected immense strength and a commitment to passing on resilience to future generations. the study shows the importance of addressing the needs of elderly Black women through public policies aimed at education, health and social inclusion. Their experiences shows a critical idea into the broader struggles of marginalized communities in Brazil, emphasizing the need for systemic change to promote equality and justice.